Healthy relationships are part of a fulfilling life. Your ability to connect with and create relationships with others can improve your well being while helping you learn more about yourself.

Transgender relationships can have unique challenges that must be considered. The following are tips to build a loving transgender relationship so that you can achieve the rewarding experiences it can offer.

Building Trust

Many transgender people face struggles related to discrimination or rejection from others. In some cases, the betrayal of one’s trust can cause lasting effects on their ability to confide in others.

Building trust is a cornerstone of any loving relationship. It’s important to be conscious of you or your loved one’s past experience to understand their needs or challenges in establishing trust.

Your ability to listen and provide an open and safe space for yourself and others is the first step in this process.

Creating Commitment

Your commitment to building a loving transgender relationship helps you and your partner achieve all of your personal goals. Commitment can be expressed through words and actions.

Understanding and meeting the needs of another person is a major part of creating commitment in your relationship.

When one partner is able to count on the other for support and understanding, they see the level of commitment that exists within the relationship.

It’s also important to discuss what commitment means to each person. This clarifies the expectations of each individual and helps you create a stronger commitment to your partner.

Discretion

Your partner may share information about their personal history, emotions, and challenges. The information shared in confidence shouldn’t be shared with others without the consent of your partner.

Disclosing a partner’s gender status to new friends or acquaintances should be done only in accordance with your partner’s wishes. Sharing this information with others could lead to issues related to discrimination or personal and professional consequences.

Also, a person’s decision to “come out” to others is a personal one. You or your partner should never feel pressured to disclose your gender identity or history to anyone.

Respecting Partners

Many transgender men and women have preferences related to the language used to identify their gender. Preferred pronouns should be expressed and understood by both partners and respected in conversations with others.

Insensitive comments related to one’s appearance or other personal aspects should be avoided. Even seemingly harmless language may be hurtful to your partner. Take the time to consider your partner’s expressed wishes and be respectful of them at all times.

Using these tips will help you build a loving transgender relationship that meets you and your partner’s needs.